Hábitos alimentares e condições de vida de pessoas idosas

Abstract

Aging is a natural process that increases the vulnerability of individuals, impacting their nutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate the eating habits of the elderly and identify determining factors and challenges faced by this population. The search was carried out in the PubMed, SciELO and VHL databases, initially resulting in 2,132 articles. After applying criteria such as publications from the last 10 years and including cross-sectional, longitudinal, or observational studies, 1,052 articles were selected. After detailed analysis, 9 studies were considered relevant. The participants were over 60 years old, allowing an analysis of eating behaviors at different stages of old age. It was observed that the practice of physical activities and a balanced diet were crucial to prevent chronic diseases and improve quality of life. Institutionalized older adults consumed more healthy foods, such as vegetables, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products, while those who lived at home had higher intakes of processed foods and fried foods, although the consumption of fruits and sweets was similar between the groups. The study concluded that the dietary patterns of the elderly were influenced by socioeconomic factors, physical, emotional and social limitations, making it difficult to adhere to a healthy diet. The need for specific interventions to promote adequate eating habits was reinforced, considering that a good nutritional status reduces health complications and favors successful aging.